When We Are At the End of Our Rope

But now, this is what the LORD says– he who created you, Jacob, he who formed you, Israel: “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior; I give Egypt for your ransom, Cush and Seba in your stead. Since you are precious and honored in my sight, and because I love you, I will give people in exchange for you, nations in exchange for your life. Do not be afraid, for I am with you; I will bring your children from the east and gather you from the west. I will say to the north, ‘Give them up!’ and to the south, ‘Do not hold them back.’ Bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the ends of the earth– everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made.” (Isaiah 43:1-7 NIV)

This is one of my favorite texts. It reminds me that no matter what I walk through, God is there, in the middle of it. He’s seeing to it that my head doesn’t slip under the raging water or when there is no place to turn, he’ll show me the way out.

Why does he do that for us? Because he created us. He’s already paid the price for our freedom. Because it is personal to him – he’s involved in who we are. All this to say, we hold a special place in his heart.  He is so invested….when we are at the end of our rope, he shows up and ties a knot in it.

By Elaine Kapetanakis